Portret van Johann Balthasar Schneider 1652

This engraving, portraying Johann Balthasar Schneider, was created by Matthäus Merian the Elder, a prominent Swiss-born engraver and publisher active in the 17th century. Schneider was a notable figure, a syndic from Colmar, in Alsace. This portrait speaks to the social and political landscape of the Holy Roman Empire during the tumultuous times of the Thirty Years' War. The text below the image indicates Schneider’s involvement in negotiations for the Peace of Westphalia. Consider how this print might have circulated: perhaps as a commemorative object, or even as a form of political propaganda, solidifying Schneider's image as a key player in the peace process. Prints like these offer us valuable insights into the networks of power and influence of the time. By consulting archives and historical documents, we can trace the circulation of such images. We can consider the ways in which visual representations contributed to shaping public opinion and reinforcing social hierarchies in 17th-century Europe.